Owning Our Power and Not Giving Away Our Hopes and Dreams

Several years ago I watched part of a movie, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, with nurse Ratched among a group of colorful characters.

The movie spoke to me

When people do not own their power, they give away their hopes and dreams.

The Plot of Significance

One of the actors, Jack Nicholson; played Randal McMurphy. Randal from what I understand pleads insanity to get out of going to jail/prison and believes he voluntarily committed himself to the state mental hospital, only to find out that he is there involuntarily. At one point in the movie, Randal; during a group session, finds out that many of the individuals who he thought were surely involuntarily committed were there voluntarily and could leave at any time.

To his amazement, he finds out that they are willing to stay at the state hospital — instead of having the freedom to do what they wanted without the control of nurse Ratchet. McMurphy then tries to convince the men who are there voluntarily to leave to own their power and their freedom beyond the confines of the hospital.

Reflection of the Movie Plot — One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

I have been thinking about the script of the movie. The men who wanted freedom could have left the hospital, instead of being controlled by nurse Ratched. Instead, they gave away their power to people who could or would not give them what they longed for — the freedom to choose how to live their lives, hopes, and dreams.

In the process, these individuals gave away their power to pursue their hopes and their dreams.

These individuals gave away their power for a lower quality of life, to be dictated by the power of a medical team and at the direction of Nurse Ratched.

Need to be Aware of When I am Giving Away my Power

Although giving away my power may not appear to be so obvious — as the men who gave away their power — I need to guard against giving my power away to people in my life. With this realization, I need to take responsibility for my reactions to what people do or do not do in response to their expectations and my choices.

In the event that I start feeling helpless and like a victim, due to my reactions, I need to examine why I am reacting — to own my power. By examining why I react, I am given the ability to make different choices. Choices that will give me the ability to own my hopes and dreams, a little at a time.

“If I begin to feel helpless or like a victim, I need to take a closer look at why and what I can do to take back and own my power.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA

Not Giving Away My Power

Giving away my power can be subtle, so I need to stay vigilant. Staying vigilant and by being aware of when I am beginning to give away my power, I am given me the ability to take steps. Steps to take back and own my power. Through owning my power, I am given the gift to exercise my ability to use my time and energy to pursue my hopes and dreams.

Dreams that may seem foolish to some, but real to us. Dreams that did not die, because of the adversity that we may be facing.

Below are Several Ways that Can help You and I Own Our Power each Day.

Owning my Power by not seeing myself as victim through figuring out what I need to do to take care of myself, given the person or situation.

Owning my Power by dealing with my anger and resentments, so that they do not continue to steal my time, energy and my ability to make healthy choices.

Owning my Power by not continuing to try to fix other people’s problems or attempting to control their behaviors.

Owning my Power by not taking on responsibility for other people’s behavior and choices, when they attempt to blame me for their choices.

Owning my Power by taking responsibility for choices and then learning from my choices.

Owning my Power by recognizing that I can’t know until I know and that is good enough.

Owning my Power by pursuing excellence, instead of perfection.

Owning my Power by celebrating small successes and gains in my recovery process and personal development.

Owning my Power by realizing that there is no such thing as failure, only an opportunity to learn.

Owning my Power by not blaming anyone for anything.

Owning my power helps me to recognize that with all learning, there is a learning curve.

Owning my Power by keeping the focus on myself and my choices, not on other people or their choices.

Owning my Power when people attempt to control and manipulate me.

Owning my Power by knowing that it is OK to feel anger and distrust.

Owning my power by saying no to what individuals may want me to do or accomplish to fulfill their plan (s) or agenda (s).

Owning my Power by learning to trust my judgement, despite what other people may want me to believe about myself and my circumstances.

Owning my Power by accepting the things that I can not change, while changing the things that I can.

Owning my Power by not giving up on myself, when other people treat me like I don’t matter.

Owning my Power by realizing and remembering that I have great worth and value to a loving God.

Owning my Power by learning how to channel my passion in ways to enhance both my life and the lives people who are brought into my life.

Owning my Power by facing our own pain/issues so that they do not continue to leave me feeling like a victim.

Owning my Power by owning and taking responsibility for my pain, instead of waiting for some one to rescue or fix me.

Owning my Power by recognizing and detaching from people who seek to control and manipulate me; for whatever reason,through the use of shame and guilt.

Owning my Power by staying on my course and running my race, without waiting for approval or validation.

Owning my Power by recognizing that my circumstances are not meant to keep me down, but they are meant to build me up.

Owning my Power by developing my gifts, talents, and abilities in ways that work for me.

Owning my Power by staying committed to my process and my journey by realizing that more will be revealed in time.

Owning my Power by learning to trust the process, a loving God and myself.

Owning My Power

In my experience, as I own my power I am able to leave the “confinement” of a mental attitude that keeps me trapped believing that I have limited choices. As I own my power, I gain more awareness and acceptance. As I own my power, I am able to get into action through making choices that will empower my hopes and dreams. As I own my power I am given the freedom to explore beyond what a system may want me to believe are my constraints.

As I own my power, I am able to experience a freedom that I never knew existed. As I own my power I am given the opportunity of a second chance. A second chance to pursue my hopes and dreams.

A Second Chance to Pursue what I Never knew Existed Beyond my Deficits and Limitations

As I own my power, I am given the gift and ability to use my time and energy to pursue my hopes and dreams on my own terms each day.

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